The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HER NCAA Tournament run came up short in the Elite Eight, but a highly touted freshman season for Lashann Higgs gave the Texas Longhorns’ faithful optimism about her future with the programme.

Higgs finished with a career high 19 points in the Longhorns’ 86-65 loss to the undefeated UConn Huskies in the Bridgeport Regional Semi-final at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Monday night.

She also added four rebounds and two steals. It was the second consecutive season the Huskies (36-0) ended the year for the Longhorns (31-5) after they routed them by 50 in the 2015 Sweet 16.

Higgs appeared in 34 games and finished the year averaging 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 13.2 minutes.

The Harbour Island native has led the Longhorns in scoring three times this season, including in games against then ranked No. 4 Tennessee and No. 4 Baylor.

She led the Longhorns with 48 steals and was its fifth-leading scorer. She was fourth in field goal percentage at 41 per cent.

She came into the season heralded as the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year, but went 0-9 from the field against UT-San Antonio. She followed up with two points and six rebounds against Northwestern State before a breakout 10-rebound, six-point performance against Rice.

She followed with her previous career high with the 18-point outburst against Tennessee. It was a renaissance season for the Longhorns programme with their first 31-win season since 1987-88.

It was also their first appearance in the Elite Eight since 2003. Texas holds an all-time record in the NCAA Tournament of 38-28 but are now 3-7 in Regional Final play.

As a team, Texas shot 40.6 per cent (26-of-64) from the field and 32.0 per cent (8-25) from behind the arc. UConn shot 56.4 per cent (31-of-55) from the floor and 57.1 per cent (12-of-21) from downtown. The Longhorns outrebounded the Huskies 34-29.

UConn was led by senior forward Morgan Tuck with 22 points.

In an interview with Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register, Higgs reflected on the progress of her team and her role in the programme.

“My teammates and I have accomplished a lot together this year,” Higgs said. “I am proud to be a part of this programme, try to set the standards high and get back to where Texas basketball used to be. When my number is being called, I try to do the best I can and do all I can for the team and they do the same for me.”